Mary E. (Keith) Little 1832-1898

KEITH, LITTLE

Posted By: Dorothy Gosse (email)
Date: 4/1/2011 at 18:43:37

Mary Elizabeth Keith was born in
Farquier County, Virginia, on the 20th
day of June. 1832. She was the oldest
of a family of nine children. In her
girlhood days she, with her parents,
moved into Shenandoah Valley, and
with them emigrated to Fayette Co.,
Iowa, in the Fall of 1850. settling in
the vicinity of Brush Creek. On the
evening of January the 1st, 1857, in the
old Union House at West Union, she
was united in marriage to B. F. Little,
who proceeded her from the Shenandoah
Valley in the spring of 1856. They
settled and lived in Brush Creek 37
years. In August, 1892, they moved to
Oelwein. She was the mother of five
children, three girls and two boys.
Two of her children proceeded her to
the land beyond. William, her eldest
son, died at Independence, on the 8th
day of February, 1898, in his 41st year.
Hattie J. died at Brush Creek, in her
7th year, on the 6th day of October,
1865. Her husband, three children, one
grand son, four sisters and two brothers,
beside many friends mourn her
loss. In 1854 she confessed her Savior
and with her father put Him on by being
buried with Him by baptism. Never
was a mother more devoted to the
welfare of her family. No sacrifice
was ever too great for her to make.
Always ready and willing to aid the
" needy and comfort the afflicted. She
was for many months a great sufferer,
patient and uncomplaining to the last.
Her desire seemed to be to lessen the
burden of those who waited on her.
Had she lived to the 20th day of next
June she would have been 66 years old.
42 years she presided over her household
and gave her life energies to the
service of her Lord and family. The
funeral services were conducted from
her late home, at 1 p. m. Monday,
March 28th, S. B. Ross, of the Christian
church, officiating. She was buried
in Oelwein cemetery. There was
a large attendance of relatives and
friends from Arlington at the funeral.

Oelwein Register - 30 Mar 1898
Note: burial recorded WPA, not shown on OAGS record
for Oakdale Cemetery. Likely unmarked today.